WSBK » Toseland, Crutchlow pair up for Yamaha

talk about pressure - if James doesn't do as well as Ben did this year... ouch. Or if Cal finishes in front.

I hope to see JT riding in his old fashion and without CE on the grid imo he should!

Why isn't Cal going to Moto2?

Good luck to James and Cal

I've said from the word go that Crutchlow would go to WSBK, and Yamaha have simply made that option impossible for him to resist: top factory WSBK machine with a promise of a Tech 3 MotoGP slot in 2011 - and he doesn't even have to win the championship to do it. How the heck could he turn that down?

Contrast that to a Moto2 championship in disarray, with Tech 3 short of funds, the Honda motors not due until next March, few rolling chassis in completion yet: it's far too big a roll of the dice for now. Maybe in 2011 the Moto2 championship will be on more secure ground, but Cal's decision makes far more sense for 2010. Smart move from Yamaha too, I think.

Quite sad I am to see James has lost his MotoGP ride but this is tough business. Nonetheless I am pleased he will be back in WSB where perhaps the racing is better anyway. MotoGP to me is screwed up.

VRob

Where did you read about Cal's option to go to MotoGP next year?

I just read on motogpmatters that Cal wanted to do Moto2 but couldn't go as he signed a 2yr contract with Yamaha last year that "precluded the switch, as Yamaha will not be fielding any official entries in Moto2."

RawDawg - He (Cal) had been reported in MCN as having talks with Gresini for Moto2 and stated that he saw this as "very interesting" given the fledgling status of the series. He did also mention the 2 year Yamaha deal and said that staying with Yamaha would be his preferred option. (I am paraphrasing here).

The impact Moto2 is going to make next year shouldn't be underestimated. Its going to have a very full grid and provide close and fast racing. It will be big news next year, and its a great place for people to impress/lobby GP teams. Whereas unless you win the title in WSBK you're probably not going to go into GP the next year, unless you can pull off as season like Spies has had. Cal would have been better served going to Moto2 if GP is his ultimate goal.

I think this will be a strong team. Bye Bye to Syksey I guess? I think Toseland's style is more suited to SBK. He's done well on a Honda and Ducati so he can ride both types of bikes. Good luck to them.

His statement on MCN says:

"I'm happy to stay to be staying with Yamaha. This will be my second year of my two year contract as agreed when I started in Supersport this year."

To me that statement seems like he already had a 2 year contract with Yamaha and they weren't going to let him out of his contract to do Moto2. He's in the 2nd year of his contract and I haven't read where he signed a new one that states he gets to go to MotoGP next year.